Date: 7-17-2014

Due Date: 7-17-2015

Resolution: As a crazy person I've always been interested in techniques created to manipulate the mind. Whether it's drugs and alcohol, meditation, or hypnosis I'm interested in anything that promises to shift reality.

So far drugs and alcohol seem to be the only tool that works for me.

As you can see from my lack of updates of Resolution #44, I've yet to figure out meditation. I think the problem is that the goal of meditation is to shut down the mind and find inner peace in the silence. My head is far too active for this.

I have no plans to give up on meditation but I think it's time to figure out another approach. I like the idea of using self-hypnosis as a form of meditation because it's an active technique. Rather than silencing your thoughts, self-hypnosis is an attempt to control your own thoughts.

I don't know if hypnotism actually works. I'm skeptical but interested. At one point in my life, I went to a hypnotherapist. It was nice, but all it felt like was a regular therapy session with my eyes closed. I never felt anything magical so I never returned.

I have my doubts that anything will come from this, but I'm hoping to stumble into a meditation technique that works for me in the process.

We'll see what happens.

Result #198: I Bought And Read The Book… Did All The Exercises… Although I Wouldn't Say That I've Mastered Self-Hypnosis… I’d Say That This Resolution Is A Success!!!

Update #1: The Conclusion…

Date: 7-17-2015

How to Master Self-Hypnosis In a Weekend is the second book I own about the topic. I bought the first one years ago and though I found it interesting, I don't think I got much out of the book. I think it may have focused too much on the concepts and not enough time on technique.

That's why I was excited to find this book that claimed to teach self-hypnosis over a weekend!

I really like this book because it does get right to the point. You go from preface to intro to practice right at the start of Chapter 1. Though I am in no way claiming that I've mastered the art of self-hypnosis or that I have fully felt like I was in a trance, I do feel like I am going to continue to practice even if I just use it as a meditation technique.

The introductory exercise alone is pretty much a guided meditation technique that seemed to work for me. Though I've always been interested in self-induced mind manipulation I think I get too hung up in analyzing the experience for aspects to share to fully give myself over to the practice. I think I may have reached a point where I'm willing to let go.

At least that's my hope.

Whether or not I am ever truly able to hypnotize myself, I'm going to keep at this one even if I never get past the point of feeling it's nothing more than meditation.

As always, I'll keep you posted if I make any breakthroughs.